Factors affecting left atrial enlargement in hypertension

Objective To evaluate the factors affecting left artrial (LA)size in hypertensive patients. Methods120 hypertensive patients consisting of 59 males and 61 females aged from 33～78 years were studied. The diameter of LA larger than 4 cm was defined as LA enlargement. Left ventricular mass index higher than 89 g/m2(male)or 77 g/m2(female)was defined as left ventricular hypertrophy. The patients were divided by age into 2 groups(60 and ≥60 years).Results Left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) was present in 43% of patients aged 60 years and in 73% of patients aged ≥60 years. Left atrial enlargement was present in 37% of elderly and in 23% of younger patients, and in 37% of patients with and 20% of patients without LVH.The older age group with left ventricular hypertrophy contained 50% of all patients with LA enlargement,while the younger age group contained only 22%.Multivariate analysis showed that left atrial englargement was not correlated with overweight or level of blood pressure; but had notable correlation with age or LVH.Conclusion Age or LVH is the important factor affecting left atrial size in hypertensive patients.